An American woman holidaying in Mexico has had her vacation come to a tragic end after she died trying to climb into her locked Airbnb.
On January 6, 20-year-old Leah Pearse, a nursing student attending Simmons University in Boston had spent a day at the beach in Cancun, southeast Mexico, with her boyfriend Bobby, before the pair enjoyed dinner and some dancing.
Leah then headed back to the Airbnb she'd been staying in, before realizing it was locked with the keys inside.
She then attempted to access the apartment via its balcony, which is on the third floor but slipped and fell, reportedly dying instantly on impact.
Her obituary states: "After a great beach day, amazing dinner, and fantastic dancing, she attempted to enter her Airbnb through the third-floor balcony because the keys had been locked inside. Tragically she slipped, fell, and died instantly."
Leah - or Lee, as she was known to friends - was described as: "An outstanding individual who encompassed the full range of human emotions with such a depth and compassion for others that her presence was bright and brilliant for all who knew her. So many people who have reached out to us have expressed that just a hug from Leah gave so much love and comfort."
According to the Mexican news site NotiCaribe, Leah's boyfriend was arrested by Mexican authorities soon after her fatal fall. He did admit to them that he'd had an argument with his girlfriend prior to the incident, but it was eventually ruled to be an accident and he was cleared of any wrongdoing. He was subsequently released.
Reggie Pearse, Leah's father, spoke to NBC Boston about his daughter, telling the outlet: "The last thing I said to her, I just said to her, 'Be careful,' and she said, 'I'll try, Dad.' [...] As her parent, I won't get to enjoy the trajectory that she was on. I can only imagine what the future would have been."
Her sister Anna added: "She was extremely unpredictable, extremely quirky, extremely funny."
Amy Goldfarb, Leah's mom, also spoke to the outlet, saying: "She died at the top of her game. She was so happy. She was so in love. She had just gotten straight A's. She was proud and excited about her future."
Lynn Perry Wooten, President at Simmons University, released a statement that paid tribute to Leah, writing: "The Simmons University family is heartbroken at the loss of junior Leah Pearse, an active and beloved member of our community. Known for her confidence, compassion, and sense of humor, Leah brought out the best in others.
"Her lifelong goal was to become a nurse and she was an outstanding student in the accelerated five-year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science nursing degree program. We extend our deepest thoughts and condolences to Leah's family, friends, and all those in our community impacted by this tragedy. Counseling and support services are available for students and employees," the statement concluded.
